Jetboil Helios

Most small camping stoves are only sized for one or two people, but the Jetboil Helios can accommodate groups while still being relatively portable. At 28 ounces, it's certainly not the lightest camping stove on the market, but the stove gets high marks for efficiency. The Jetboil Helios burns isobutane-propane fuel, but the inverted design gives it stronger performance than most canister stoves in cold weather. It comes with a plastic windscreen and 2-liter cooking pot, although a 3-liter pot (*Est. $50) is also available for larger groups. The stove fits inside the cooking pot for portability. Reviewers say the Jetboil Helios is highly efficient, with most tests confirming Jetboil's claims of a three-minute boiling time. In one test, however, the stove took five minutes to bring one liter of water to a boil. While reviewers like the stove overall, some complain that the piezo igniter takes several tries before it lights. If you don't need to cook for a group, the MSR Reactor (*Est. $140) or Snow Peak LiteMax (*Est. $60) post faster boiling times, but they are only sized for one or two people.

BackpackingLight.com has the most comprehensive and detailed test of the Jetboil Helios. Roger Caffin's testing is objective and scientific, although the full details are only available to subscribers. Men's Journal, Rock and Ice magazine and GearJunkie.com also test the Jetboil Helios, although their testing criteria are not explained quite as clearly.